Brown Belt Training Resources
Form: Toi-Gye
Tae Kwon Do Forms (Hyung) help our students develop techniques, improve their balance and coordination, and enhance their mental focus. Forms also serve as a way to preserve and pass down the traditional skills and movements of Tae Kwon Do.
The new form Brown Belts learn is called Toi-Gye. The form is named for the penname of the scholar Yi Hwang, who was an authority on neo-Confucianism. The form has 37 movements that represent his birthplace on the 37th latitude of Korea. Master Penny Duggan demonstrates Toi-Gye form in the video below.
Hand and Foot Techniques
Master Penny Duggan demonstrates hand / foot combinations. Use this as a daily workout tool for at-home training to practice your Tae Kwon Do mechanics. The new techniques to focus on practicing as a Blue Belt with Brown Tip required for testing for Brown Belt include:
- Hand Techniques:
- Offensive: Low spear-hand strike, Knee / head strike, High spear-hand strike
- Defensive: Mountain block, Low knife-hand block
- Combinations:
- Low block > backfist strike combination
- Low X-fist block > twin punch combination
- Low X block Jump
In these videos, Master Penny Duggan takes students through the Tae Kwon Do Kicks, Basic to Advanced and Kicking Combinations. Use these videos to reinforce the kicks learned as lower belts and practice the new kick combinations.
The second video demonstrates the defensive hand techniques and blocks learned in the Tae Kwon Do forms. Students should focus on practicing the techniques used in the form Toi-Gye as well as reinforce and refine blocks learned as a lower belts.
The third video demonstrates the offensive hand techniques learned in the Tae Kwon Do forms. Students should focus on practicing the techniques used in the form Toi-Gye, as well as reinforce and refine strikes and punches learned as lower belts.
Terminology
This audio track provides the basic terminology for Brown Belts to learn for consideration of promotion to Brown Belt with Black Tip.
- Open and Close a class in Korean
- Explain 10+ vital points (and point them out on the body)
- Define the meaning of the American and Korean flags
- Five Point Code of Conduct of the Hwa-Rang-Do
- Do Jang (school) Rules
- Theory of Power
- Counting from 80 to 100 in Korean
- Advanced vocabulary
Self Defense
When testing for the next belt level, students are required to demonstrate three spontaneous self defense techniques in a row as well as perform two self-defense take-downs on the mats. Master Penny Duggan demonstrates Consecutive Kicks for Self Defense in the following video.
Judo
Brown Belts learn Judo techniques at Kim’s Tae Kwon Do Center. This short video demonstrates Judo techniques. Practice basic break falls, six basic throwing techniques, and self-defense take downs.
For testing, Brown Belts are required to perform any two basic Judo throws.
Board Breaking
Intermediate and advanced students are required to break boards for their promotion test. Youth are required to break one (1) board. Women are required to break two (2) boards. Men are required to break four (4) boards. Boards can be purchased from Master Penny Duggan at the Redeemer classes. Affiliate students, please check with your instructors.
Recommended board-breaking techniques at the Brown Belt level include:
- Hand & Foot Combination Techniques
Master Penny Duggan demonstrates stationary board breaking techniques in the following video.
One Step Sparring
One-step sparring is a controlled martial arts drill where two students (or a student and instructor) perform a pre-arranged attack and a single defensive counter. Each movement is practiced step-by-step, focusing on precision, timing, and proper technique rather than free sparring. The “attacker” steps forward and executes a middle punch. The “defender” then executes their defensive block and attack sequence. For promotion testing, students will need to execute six different intermediate-level techniques and have knowledge of and practice two-on-one (alternate attack) sparring.
Benefits:
- Builds strong fundamentals and correct technique
- Improves timing, distance, and coordination
- Develops confidence in self-defense situations
- Enhances focus, discipline, and reaction speed
- Provides a safe way to practice realistic scenarios
Tournament Sparring
Tournament sparring is a controlled, point-based competition format in Tae Kwon Do where two competitors face off using legal hand and foot techniques to score points on designated target areas, with emphasis on speed, control, timing, and proper technique rather than full contact.
How to prepare for tournament sparring:
- Sharpen fundamentals: Focus on clean, fast kicks (like turning kicks and side kicks), strong guarding and blocks, and proper fighting stances
- Improve timing and distance: Practice judging range and countering effectively during drills and light no-contact free sparring
- Build conditioning: Work on cardio, agility, and explosive movement for quick attacks and recovery
- Drill combinations: Use simple, effective defend / attack–counter sequences you can rely on under pressure
- Practice control: Train to stop techniques accurately on target to avoid penalties
- Know the rules: Understand scoring areas, fouls, and match structure to compete strategically
- Mental preparation: Stay calm, focused, and confident and try to visualize matches and reactions of your opponent
Master Penny Duggan demonstrates tournament strategies that can be used in sparring to help score points at tournaments. Try these techniques in the free sparring sessions at class.
The Journey
A student’s Tae Kwon Do journey to Black Belt is enhanced by participating in Kim’s Tae Kwon Do Center’s camps, tournaments, and seminars. Students are encouraged to attend the following events to enhance their training with focused instruction.
- Attend a Kim’s Tae Kwon Do Winter or Summer Camp
- Attend a Kim’s Tae Kwon Do Tournament
- Attend monthly Tae Kwon Do Journey Seminars
Additional Training Tips
These videos and more are found on the Kim’s Tae Kwon Do Center’s YouTube Channel.